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1949 Cotton Bowl Classic
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December 2025
February 2020
Cotton Bowl Classic
Cotton Bowl Classic 1949.png
13th Cotton Bowl Classic
January 1
1949
1948
Southern Methodist University
SMU
Mustangs
8–1–1
Matty Bell
SWC
10
7
0
7
7
Oregon University
Oregon
Ducks
9–1
Jim Aiken
PCC
9
0
0
0
13
RB Kyle Rote (SMU)RB Doak Walker (SMU)C Brad Ecklund (Oregon)QB Norm Van Brocklin (Oregon)
bg
Cotton Bowl
Dallas, Texas
Abb Curtis (SWC;split crew: SWC, Pacific Coast)
69,000
thumb|The Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas, hosted the Cotton Bowl Classic.
The 1949 Cotton Bowl Classic was a post-season game between the SMU Mustangs and the Oregon Ducks. 20 points were scored in the final quarter.1949 COTTON BOWL - SMU 21, OREGON 13 https://smumustangs.com/news/2009/12/23/1949_COTTON_BOWL_SMU_21_OREGON_13.aspx?path=football SMU Athletics 30 July 2023 en
Background
SMU, despite losing for the first time in 1946, had a banner year once again as Doak Walker won the Heisman Trophy and led SMU to their 2nd consecutive Southwest Conference championship and 2nd straight Cotton Bowl. Oregon had only played in two bowl games, the last being the 1920 Rose Bowl. They shared the Pacific Coast Conference championship with California, who they did not play that season. While the Bears got the Rose Bowl, the Ducks (in a break of PCC tradition) were sent to the Cotton Bowl. They were coached by Jim Aiken and led by Norm Van Brocklin.
Game summary
For the second straight Cotton Bowl, Doak Walker started the scoring, this time with a 1-yard touchdown run. Most notable in the game was SMU's deep punts, one by Doak Walker for 79 and one by Kyle Rote for 84, which was crucial in pinning the Ducks in their own territory. In the third quarter, Kyle Rote added to the lead with a 36-yard touchdown run. As the fourth quarter began, so did the scoring. Norm Van Brocklin threw a pass to Dick Wilkins to narrow the lead, but the kick failed, making it only 14–6. But SMU retaliated with their own score on a Chicken Roberts touchdown run. Oregon scored once more on a Bob Sanders touchdown run, but that was their last score as the game ended 21–13 in SMU's favor.26-37.pmd (PDF) https://www.cottonbowl.com/documents/2019/10/14//1949_Classic_Recap.pdf?id=37 Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic 30 July 2023 en
Statistics
Statistics SMU Oregon First downs 19 19 Yards rushing 226 242 Yards passing 111 145 Total yards 337 387Punts-Average 3-68.7 3-31.0Fumbles-Lost 0-0 2-1Interceptions 0 2Penalties-Yards 1-5 6-30
References
Category:1948–49 college football bowl games
1949
1949
1949
Category:January 1949 sports events in the United States
Cotton Bowl